Challenges to mobilising resources for disaster recovery and reconstruction: perspectives of the Haitian diaspora

Diasporas and diaspora non‐governmental organisations (NGOs) are increasingly important as resource lifelines to their home countries, yet the resources that they mobilise, the types of challenges that they face, and their coping mechanisms are not well explored or understood in the context of disaster recovery. To fill this knowledge gap, this study employed an inductive qualitative methodological approach, using interviews to comprehend the role played by Haitian diaspora NGOs after the catastrophic earthquake in 2010. It found that resources take four common forms: event fundraisers; financial and material donations from supporters; remittances; and volunteer labour. Challenges include an overreliance on diaspora donors, competition among NGOs, and what is perceived as inequitable funding practices towards diaspora NGOs. The findings provide insights centred on better coordination among diaspora NGOs, as well as between diaspora NGOs and other local and international NGOs and local governments and international institutions, to ensure more efficient delivery of services to survivors.     

Morphological adaptations to chronic hypoxia in deep-sea decapod crustaceans from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps

Animals inhabiting hydrothermal vents and cold seeps face conditions that are challenging for survival. In particular, these two habitats are characterized by chronic hypoxia, sometimes reaching complete anoxia. The characteristics of the scaphognathite and gills were studied in four species of shrimp and three species of crabs from hydrothermal vents and cold seeps, in order to highlight potential adaptations that could enhance oxygen acquisition in comparison with shallow-water relatives. All the vent and seep species studied here exhibit significantly larger scaphognathites, likely allowing more water to flow over their gills per stroke of this appendage. This is probably more energetically efficient that prolonged hyperventilation. In contrast to annelids, vent and seep decapods usually do not possess enlarged gills, a phenomenon likely due to the physical limitations imposed by the size of the gill chamber. In the vent shrimp Rimicaris exoculata and the vent crab Bythograea thermydron, however, there is a significantly higher specific gill surface area linked to a higher number of lamellae per gram of gill. Again in contrast to annelids, the diffusion distance through the gills is not strikingly different between the vent shrimp Alvinocaris komaii and the shallow-water species Palaemon spp. This may indicate that the epithelium and cuticle of the decapod gills are already optimized for oxygen uptake and that reducing the thickness of these compartments is not physically possible without affecting the physical integrity of the gills.     

Changes in fall prevention training for apprentice carpenters based on a comprehensive needs assessment

Problem

Falls from heights in residential construction are common, especially among inexperienced workers.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive needs assessment to determine gaps in the school-based apprentice carpenters' fall prevention training. A team of carpenter instructors and researchers revised the fall prevention training to fill these gaps. Apprentice evaluation and feedback guided ongoing curricular improvements.

Results

Most apprentice carpenters performed work tasks at heights prior to training and fall protection techniques were not commonly used at residential construction sites. Priorities of the revised school-based training included safe ladder habits, truss setting, scaffold use, guarding floor openings, and using personal fall arrest systems. New apprentices were targeted to ensure training prior to exposure at the workplace. We used adult learning principles to emphasize hands-on experiences. A framed portion of a residential construction site was fabricated to practice fall protection behaviors in a realistic setting. The revised curriculum has been delivered consistently and apprentice feedback has been very favorable.

Conclusions

Integration of needs assessment results was invaluable in revising the school-based carpenters apprentice fall prevention curriculum. Working closely with the instructors to tailor learning experiences has provided preliminary positive results.

Impact on Industry

The fall safety of the residential construction industry continues to lag behind commercial construction and industrial settings. The National Occupational Research Agenda includes a Strategic Goal to strengthen and extend the reach of quality training and education in the construction industry via mechanisms such as construction safety and health training needs assessments. This study demonstrates how a structured process can be used to identify and remedy gaps and improve training effectiveness. We encourage others to take steps to assess and increase the impact of training efforts directed at all residential construction professionals; including both union and non-union workers. The implications are even greater in the non-union sector where most U.S. residential work is done.     

Quantifying construction and demolition waste: An analytical review

Quantifying construction and demolition (C&D) waste generation is regarded as a prerequisite for the implementation of successful waste management. In literature, various methods have been employed to quantify the C&D waste generation at both regional and project levels. However, an integrated review that systemically describes and analyses all the existing methods has yet to be conducted. To bridge this research gap, an analytical review is conducted. Fifty-seven papers are retrieved based on a set of rigorous procedures. The characteristics of the selected papers are classified according to the following criteria - waste generation activity, estimation level and quantification methodology. Six categories of existing C&D waste quantification methodologies are identified, including site visit method, waste generation rate method, lifetime analysis method, classification system accumulation method, variables modelling method and other particular methods. A critical comparison of the identified methods is given according to their characteristics and implementation constraints. Moreover, a decision tree is proposed for aiding the selection of the most appropriate quantification method in different scenarios. Based on the analytical review, limitations of previous studies and recommendations of potential future research directions are further suggested.     

Mutagenic and carcinogenic potency of extracts of diesel and related environmental emissions: In vitro mutagenesis and DNA damage

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae D3 recombinogenic assay, the assay for forward mutagenesis in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells, and the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay using Chinese hamster ovary cells were used to evaluate the in vitro mutagenic and DNA-damaging effects of eight samples of diesel engine emissions and related environmental emissions. The recombinogenic assay was not sufficiently sensitive for this evaluation, but mutagenicity was detected in the L5178Y mutagenesis assay following exposures of the cells to all of the emission samples, and DNA damage in the SCE assay was induced by most of the emission samples in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. The observation of positive results in the absence of activation indicated that the samples contained substances that were direct-acting mutagens and DNA-damaging agents.     

Extremes in the resource consumption process: A mathematical model of the irruption of the moose population on Isle Royale. Part 1—Ecological background and model development

The development of a mathematical model of the moose-browse interaction on Isle Royale, Michigan, from the time of the establishment of the moose population in the early 1900s until the time of the arrival of wolves on the island about the mid-twentieth century is described. A brief history of the observations that were made during that period of the dynamics of the moose population and its resulting impact upon the vegetation is given. The simplifying assumptions that were made, the processes that were judged important enough to be represented in the model, the state variables that were selected and the input variables that were considered are delineated. A rationale is developed for the mathematical form of each of the terms used in the state equations. The literature that was utilized and the methodologies that were employed to obtain estimates of the parameters of the equations and the values of the initial conditions of the state variables are described.     

加拿大地盾湖泊中的沿岸小型甲壳动物(枝角目和桡足亚纲)酸化指示种

在过去两次间隔10年的加拿大地盾湖泊调查中,我们确定了一些沿岸小型甲壳动物的酸性指示种.我们总共发现了90种其丰度在非酸性湖中比在酸性湖中高出几倍的枝角目动物和桡足亚纲动物.在这两次调查中非酸性湖泊的动物群有所变化.1987年的调查中使用了活动捕集器,比在后来的、拉网式的调查中捕到的沿岸生物种类多.这两次调查中均在酸性湖泊中发现了类似的动物群,并找到了几个很好的指示种.例如,Acanthocycops vernalis只存在于pH值小于6的湖泊中.Sinobosmina sp.是常见物种,但只存在于pH值大于4.8的湖泊中.Tropocyclops extensus(近剑水蚤属)、Mesocyclops edax和Sida crystallina(晶莹仙达蚤)比较常见,但只存在于pH值大于5的湖泊中;而Chydorus faviformis(盘肠蚤属)只存在于pH值大于5.9的湖泊中.在两次调查活动中均接受调查的3个湖泊中,这些酸性指示种在从酸化中复原的早期阶段进行的测定中显示出较好的前景.     

Psychological impact of amniocentesis on low-risk women

The study comprised 85 young (25–34 years old) women who underwent genetic amniocentesis, 80 comparable young women who had an ultrasoundscan at the same gestational age and 74 women (35–40 years old) who had amniocentesis. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Visual Analogue Scales concerning anxiety and worry were used on four occasions to evaluate psychological changes during pregnancy. The anxiety level in the younger women decreased after amniocentesis and a further decrease was observed after the results were communicated to them. However, similar changes were seen in the group of younger women after ultrasonography, and there was no difference in anxiety level between the two groups of younger women in the 16th or in the 35th week of pregnancy. Thus, in younger women at low genetic risk amniocentesis was neither anxiety-relieving, nor anxiety-creating. The level of anxiety before amniocentesis was not higher in the older than in the younger women having amniocentesis. However, in the younger women a significant decrease in anxiety was seen as soon as amniocentesis had been performed, while in the older women this decrease was delayed until after the results were known.